How to Clean Carpet Stains: Acids

The short lesson on cleaning carpet stains that are acidic
is this: act fast! Battery acids, in particular, can cause serious
damage to carpet. So can the acids found in some tile-cleaning
compounds, drain cleaners and other household products.

As soon as you see the spill (which means before it
is a stain if possible), get water and flush the area. Extract
the water (blot it up with white cotton cloth or un-dyed paper
towles, or use a shop-vac), then flush the area again. Repeat
the process several times. How quickly you move to clean these
types of carpet stains is crucial to success. You need to wash
away and dilute the acid before it damages the carpet.

Neutralize Acidic Carpet Stains

After cleaning the carpet with water, prepare a solution of
one tablespoon baking soda mixed with a quart of warm water.
Apply this to the area with a sponge or cloth. This will neutralize
any remaining acid. Then you can rinse the area again, extract
the water, and dry the carpet quickly.

Leave a fan blowing on it if you can. It always helps to dry
carpet quickly after any clean-up. This prevents any remaining
stain deeper down in the fibers from migrating up to the surface
or visible parts.

If you can't get that stain out, your might want to look over
the page on how
to repair carpet to see if you can hide or fix the damage.